June 24 (Reuters) - Iraq's health minister confirmed on Wednesday the country's first cases of the H1N1 flu virus, saying seven members of the women's national basketball team were being treated in hospital. Serbia has also confirmed its first case of the new H1N1 flu virus, Health Minister Tomica Milosavljevic said on Wednesday. The WHO has declared an influenza pandemic and advised governments to prepare for a long-term battle against the virus. Here are some details about the spread of the new H1N1 flu, a mixture of swine, bird and human viruses and which has infected nearly 56,000, according to the latest World Health Organisation and local health authority tallies. DEATH TOLL: 249 CONFIRMED CASES: The number of confirmed cases of H1N1 is now at least 56,321. COUNTRIES WORST AFFECTED: DEATHS CASES MEXICO 115 7,847* UNITED STATES 87 21,449*** CANADA 15 6,457 ARGENTINA 17 1.294++ CHILE 4 4,315** AUSTRALIA 2 2,857+ COLOMBIA 2 71 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 2 108 BRITAIN 1 2,905**** PHILIPPINES 1 445 GUATEMALA 1 235 COSTA RICA 1 189 HONDURAS 1 118 NOTE: * = Mexico Ministry of Health figures. ** = Chilean health authorities. *** = U.S. authorities estimate more than 100,000 cases; confirmed cases are only a sampling. **** = British Health Protection Agency figures + = Australian government. ++ = Argentina's health ministry. Sources: Reuters/WHO. WHO figures sometimes lag local confirmations covered by Reuters.
Iraq's Health Minister Saleh Al-Hasnawi speaks during a news conference in Baghdad June 24, 2009. Al-Hasnawi confirmed on Wednesday the country's first cases of the H1N1 flu virus, saying six members ...
